Probe extortion by MNS leaders: Cong

State Congress has demanded an inquiry into allegations that MNS office bearers extort money from the people and institutes.

State Congress has demanded an inquiry into allegations that MNS office bearers extort money from the people and institutes.

Party's state spokesperson Sachin Sawant has requested home minister RR Patil that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) office bearers against whom offences of a serious nature were registered be booked.

He has questioned MNS chief Raj Thackeray's inaction in such incidents.

"Is it because of his 'settlements' that Thackeray turns a blind eye to criminals in his party?" Sawant said.

"Many MNS leaders such as the party Satara unit president Yuvraj Pawar have been accused of opening fire at a local financial institute for extorting money. One of the party MLAs in Mumbai has also been accused of extortion," he said.

In a letter to Patil, Sawant said that MNS leaders create fear by holding protests and then extort huge sums of money from those who are cowed by the MNS holding such protests.